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A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information, trailers and high-res photos from their upcoming release, TONIGHT, AT THE MOVIES (今夜、ロマンス劇場で, Konya, Romansu Gekijo de). The movie opens in Japanese cinemas on February 10, and is being offered to foreign distributors by sales agent Fuji TV Motion Picture.Continued…

Based on the novel It Is Over by Park Ha-ik., the fast-paced, nail-biting South Korean thriller RV: RESURRECTED VICTIMS (희생부활자, Hwui-saeng-bu-hwa-ja, 2017) debuts on digital February 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Directed by Kyung-taek Kwak (EYE FOR AN EYE), RV: RESURRECTED VICTIMS stars KIM Rae-Won (GANGNAM BLUES) and KIM Hae-Sook (THE HANDMAIDEN) the taunt terrifying tale of the Resurrected Victims Phenomenon, where murder victims come back to life to avenge their murderer and a prosecutor is suspected of his mother’s murder when she returns from the dead.Continued…

Pokémon has delighted fans of all ages around the world for over two decades. With more than 300 million video games sold worldwide, 23.6 billion Pokémon TCG cards shipped to 74 countries, and an animated series spanning 20 seasons, Pokémon is one of the most successful entertainment properties in the world.

Universal Pictures will handle distribution of DETECTIVE PIKACHU outside Japan. Toho will distribute in Japan, as it has done in its partnership with Legendary on the blockbuster monster reboot for GODZILLA.Continued…

GINTAMA (銀魂, 2017), the visually spectacular feature film based on the long-running manga, debuts on digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack (SLP: $29.98) and DVD (SLP: $24.98) March 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The live-action film adaptation of the blockbuster manga is set in an era where aliens have invaded and taken over feudal Tokyo, and a young samurai finds work however he can.Continued…

After being defeated by humans centuries ago, the Winged Tribe has lost their ability to fly. Seeking vengeance, a royal descendant of the tribe has begun searching for the magical Naga Pearls, which he plans to use to destroy the humans. When the legendary pearls fall into — and out of — the hands of Heiyu, a wily human street punk, he must join a team of unlikely heroes as they race to prevent the destruction of their people in this magical fantasy adventure.Continued…

Distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has partnered with Azoland Pictures to bring the live-action movie GINTAMA (銀魂, 2017) to North American theaters on January 19, 2018. The Blu-ray, DVD and digital HD release will follow on March 6.Continued…

SciFi Japan is proud to remain the one and ONLY English language website devoted to Japanese fantasy films and TV that is officially press registered with all five major Japanese studios (Toho, Toei, Shochiku, Nikkatsu and Kadokawa), several Japanese production companies, plus their distributors and licensees.Continued…

Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its April slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks’ AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN SEASON 2, available on DVD, Blu-ray and Collector’s Edition Premium Box Set!

Also scheduled for April are UTANO – PRINCESAMA: LEGEND STAR on Blu-ray and DVD, plus Blu-ray editions of CLASSICALOID, URARA MEIROCHOU and the live-action film GARO: RED REQUIEM.Continued…

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. and Nippon Television Network Corp. have provided information and large, high-res photos from their upcoming release, DESTINY: THE TALE OF KAMAKURA (DESTINY 鎌倉ものがたり, Destiny Kamakura Monogatari). Toho is releasing the movie in Japanese cinemas on December 9, while NTV is handling sales to foreign distributors.Continued…

Bluefin, the leading North American distributor of toys, collectibles, and hobby merchandise from Japan, Asia and more, announces the release of new Power Rangers Megazord and Dragonzord Super Mini-Pla Kits from Bandai’s Shokugan collections.Continued…

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos from FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST (鋼の錬金術師, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi), the live-action feature film adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, which has sold 70 million copies worldwide.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST opens in Japanese cinemas on December 1st. Funimation has licensed North American rights; release date TBA.Continued…

CHIHAYAFURU SEASON 2 Available March 20th
Source: Section23 Films press releases
Special Thanks to Mike Bailiff

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its February and March slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks’ popular shoujo anime series, CHIHAYAFURU SEASON 2. The Complete Collection will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and a Limited Edition Premium Box Set.Continued…

Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its December and January slate of releases which includes Sentai Filmworks’ premium box set for the “sleeper” comedy TANAKA-KUN IS ALWAYS LISTLESS, the anime adaptation of the popular web manga by Square Enix.

Other titles include the INITIAL D LEGEND 1: AWAKENING Blu-ray/DVD Combo; GARO TV COLLECTION 2, HAKKENDEN: EIGHT DOGS OF THE EAST, WHEN THEY CRY, TO LOVE RU, CHAIKA ~ THE COFFIN PRINCES, FAMILIAR OF ZERO, KISSDUM R – ENGAGE PLANET, TYPHOON NORUDA, CROSS ANGE: RONDO OF ANGEL AND DRAGON, TO LOVE RU and CLANNAD / CLANNAD AFTER STORY on Blu-ray; NAISHO NO TSUBOMI on DVD; and HAIKYU!! SEASON 2 on Blu-ray, DVD and Combo.Continued…

On August 7, 2017, the news came out that Haruo Nakajima, beloved Godzilla and Kaiju suit actor and a pioneer of the art, had passed away. Word spread through fandom quickly via social media and the outpouring a affection, grief and shock was amazing and heartfelt. At SciFi Japan, we felt a fitting tribute needed to be done and it was something that should not be rushed or thrown together. Over the last month we have been talking to people who worked closely with Mr. Nakajima to bring him to the US and around the world, to meet his fans and share his stories of the golden years of suit acting in Japanese films.

We start off with an overview of his life and career, written by author Ed Godziszewski, followed by remembrances from a variety of colleagues that traveled with him over the last few years. Continued…

Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is an out-of-work party girl who, after getting kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend (Dan Stevens), is forced to leave her life in New York and move back to her hometown. When news reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, South Korea, Gloria gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this far-off phenomenon. As events begin to spin out of control, Gloria must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world.Continued…

Arrow Video US is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win their new Blu-ray/DVD set of the J-Horror classic PULSE (回路, Kairo, 2001).

Award-winning filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa delivered this moody and spiritually terrifying film that delivers existential dread along with its frights. Setting his story in the burgeoning internet and social media scene in Japan, Kurosawa’s dark and apocalyptic film foretells how technology will only serve to isolate us as it grows more important to our lives.Continued…

The 2-Disc (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD) Blu-ray Combo Pack streets July 18 and has a SRP of $35.99. Bonus features include a director’s audio commentary, several featurettes detailing the making and world of KONG: SKULL ISLAND, and deleted scenes.Continued…

Netflix has released a new character art poster of “L” from their upcoming American remake of DEATH NOTE. In the ultimate chess match between “Light” and darkness, L is the prodigy detective behind the investigation of the serial killer known as ‘Kira.’

Based on the famous Japanese manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, DEATH NOTE follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.Continued…

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toei Co., Ltd. has provided SciFi Japan with a trailer, poster artwork and logos for their upcoming double feature, KAMEN RIDER EX-AID / KYURANGER THE MOVIE. The films will open in Japan on August 5th.Continued…

SciFi Japan has updated our list of English and Japanese titles for live action and animated movies, television programs and home videos produced and/or released by Toei Co., Ltd. (東映株式会社). Several older titles have been added, as well as new Toei releases into early 2018.

Rather than relying on any of the many unofficial fan translations, this list features the official English titles created and used by Toei. Information has been culled from multiple sources, including materials from Toei’s International Sales & Promotion Department and Ishimori Production, US copyright registrations, Toei sales catalogs and publicity materials, Toei screenings at film festivals and trade shows, and organizations such as the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (of which Toei is a founding member) and UniJapan.Continued…

Netflix has released key art, photos, a trailer and a featurette for their upcoming American remake of DEATH NOTE. Based on the famous Japanese manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, the Netflix original feature film follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.Continued…

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Saban’s POWER RANGERS, the American feature film from Lionsgate and Saban Brands, is now available on home video in North America, but will not open theatrically in Japan until July 15th. Toei Co., creators of the Super Sentai franchise, have provided SciFi Japan with additional high-res images promoting the Japanese release.Continued…

Starting Friday, June 23, 2017, HIDIVE members in the USA and Canada will be able to stream newly launched episodes of the 25-episode GARO 牙狼～GARO～) series every Friday at 12:00 PM CT exclusively on HIDIVE’s streaming service.Continued…

Lionsgate is offering SciFi Japan readers a chance to win a Blu-ray Combo Pack of their new feature film, Saban’s POWER RANGERS. Based on the five Rangers from the original TV series, MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, the reimagined movie features a modern generation of Rangers including Dacre Montgomery (TV’s STRANGER THINGS) as Jason the Red Ranger, Naomi Scott (THE 33) as Kimberly the Pink Ranger, RJ Cyler (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL) as Billy the Blue Ranger, Ludi Lin (MONSTER HUNT) as Zack the Black Ranger, and Becky G. (NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING) as Trini the Yellow Ranger, as they attempt to stop the evil and unpredictable Rita Repulsa (played by Elizabeth Banks, THE HUNGER GAMES Franchise) from destroying their city… and ultimately the world. Bryan Cranston (BREAKING BAD) as Zordon, and Bill Hader (FINDING DORY) as Alpha 5 train the Rangers to morph and master their powers as a united team.Continued…